Korea gives $500,000 to piracy fight

Following another attack by Somali pirates on a Korean ship, the Korean government has announced it has pledged $500,000 to a U.N. counter-piracy fund.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday, Korean envoy Moon Ha-yong signed the pledge at an event held for the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The event was held in Dubai on April 19 with representatives from about 40 countries and businesses, the ministry said.

Moon was cited by the ministry as saying that those who were present at the event agreed that a response system involving governments and industries was necessary in order to fend off threats from pirates. The guests also were in agreement in that strong punishment is needed for pirates.

The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) was established by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in January 2010 and its objective is to “help defray the expenses associated with prosecution of suspected pirates, as well as other activities related to implementing the contact group’s objectives regarding combating piracy in all its aspects,” according to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime.

As of last November, the CGPCS had received $3,662,271 from 10 member states. Funds collected are used for the dissemination of anti-piracy messages in the Somali region where vessels are frequently snatched by Somali pirates.

The money is also used to increase court and holding facilities for arrested pirates.

It has been estimated that piracy causes $7 billion to $12 billion loss to the world’s economy every year.

By Christine Kim [christine.kim@joongang.co.kr]

한글 관련 기사 [머니투데이]
정부, 해적퇴치 국제기금에 50만달러 기탁

정부가 소말리아 해적퇴치를 위한 국제기금에 50만 달러를 기탁할 계획이다.

24일 외교통상부에 따르면, 문하영 재외동포영사대사는 지난 19일 두바이에서 열린 유엔 소말리아 해적퇴치 연락그룹(CGPCS) 신탁기금 모금행사에 정부 대표로 참석해 50만 달러를 기여하겠다고 서약했다.

이는 네덜란드(140만 달러)와 아랍에미리트(140만 달러), 독일(75만 달러)에 이어 세계에서 4번째로 큰 규모다.

모금된 신탁기금은 유엔 마약·범죄사무국(ODC) 주관 아래 생포 해적을 사법처리하기 위한 소말리아 지방정부의 재판소와 교도소를 증축하는 데 쓰이게 된다.